Chino Hills, CA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

The City of Chino Hills enforces numeric noise limits through Municipal Code Section 16.48.020 and Table 16.48-1, measured as A-weighted equivalent sound level (Leq) on the receiving property. Maximum permitted exterior sound levels are: single-family residential 60 dBA (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) / 45 dBA (10 p.m.-7 a.m.); multi-family residential and mobile home parks 65 / 45 dBA; commercial and institutional 70 / 60 dBA; residential portion of mixed use 65 / 45 dBA; and manufacturing/industrial/other 75 / 70 dBA. These base limits may be exceeded only briefly under a graduated cumulative-period scale: the standard plus 5 dBA for more than 15 minutes per hour, plus 10 dBA for more than 5 minutes, plus 15 dBA for more than 1 minute, and plus 20 dBA for any period. Each maximum is reduced by 5 dBA for impulsive noise, tonal noise, or noise consisting of speech or music. If the ambient level already exceeds the table limit, the standard becomes 3 dB above ambient. Interior limits (Section 16.48.020(F)) are 45 dBA at night and 55 dBA during the day in a sleeping or living room. The code also limits ground vibration to a perception threshold of 0.05 inch per second RMS vertical velocity. Measurements use a Type 1 or Type 2 ANSI sound level meter (cell phones do not qualify). These are City of Chino Hills standards.